Marvel Cybernetic Girl

Kagura Hitomi knelt on top of the Winter Soldier, pinning him down with her body as he lay paralyzed from the electric shock.

[Covert Electromagnetic Mind Interference: Activated]

[Core Energy Remaining: 46.6%]

Kagura activated her new ability, manipulating the electromagnetic pulse to a specific frequency.

Using the special tissues beneath her palm, she sent it out to interfere with his brain.

This ability was incredibly powerful—it could rewrite someone's mind, and it required 10% of her core energy to use.

[Biological Wave Synchronization Complete]

[Mental Interference Started]

Kagura's golden eyes shimmered faintly as she began muttering the coded words.

"Search for keywords: желание (desire), ржавчина (rust), семнадцать (seventeen), рассвет (dawn), печь (stove), девять (nine), доброта (kindness), домой (home), один (one), грузовик (truck). Interfere and erase."

These were the secret Soviet phrases used to control the Winter Soldier.

If she erased his brain's reaction to them, his mental conditioning would be undone.

[Biological Wave Analysis...]

[Analysis Complete]

[Beginning to Rewrite Neural Structure...]

A flood of images and sounds poured into Kagura's mind.

During this mental interference, all of the target's memories and thoughts were laid bare for her to see.

Snowstorms, trains, cliffs.

The hand of a close friend rapidly pulling away.

"Bucky!"

The name, both unfamiliar and familiar, echoed from his lips, drifting through the valley.

WWII, the military, training, comrades, Steve Rogers.

Encouragement, striving, cooperation, reliance.

The sealed past was gradually uncovered, and the mental shackles were broken by her power.

The Soviet-created super soldier was gone.

The hero who once belonged to the Howling Commandos had returned.

[Mental Interference Successful]

[Neural Suggestion Erased]

Kagura's golden eyes glowed faintly as the massive man beneath her gradually calmed.

"Ugh… This feels awful. It's like I've been drunk for decades..."

Bucky Barnes rubbed his forehead and slowly spoke, "I still can't get it out… Ugh!"

"Whoa!"

Kagura quickly jumped off the ground, startled by his sudden dry heaving.

"Don't throw up! That's disgusting!"

"Oh, sorry…"

Bucky swallowed, coughing a little.

"Hey… who are you? Where am I?"

"I... What happened to me?"

Bucky looked at the beautiful silver-haired girl before him, "Wow, you're really beautiful."

"Thank you."

Kagura smiled.

"Just to be sure, can I ask you something? Are you Bucky Barnes?"

Even though she had already interfered with his mind, Kagura still wanted to confirm his identity.

"That's right. I'm Bucky Barnes. I…"

As his emotions began to settle, Bucky seemed to start recalling memories from his past.

"I feel like something's been holding me back for a long time... Ah, did I really do all those things?"

A look of disbelief appeared in his eyes.

"Oh my god, what have I done?"

"You… did you save me? Did you help me get rid of those damn mind control triggers?"

"I think I did, Mr. Barnes."

"...Thank you, little girl."

Bucky sighed deeply. "That was such an uncontrollable feeling. It felt like I'd been forced to drink tons of hard liquor… horrible, irresistible, full of guilt, regret…"

His eyes softened, as if staring into the distance.

"They tortured me, brainwashed me, forced me to serve them."

"You're fine now."

Kagura spoke reassuringly.

"You can be yourself again, Bucky Barnes."

"What year is it now?"

Bucky asked.

"Welcome to 2009, Mr. Barnes."

Kagura smiled.

"No…"

His mind, now fully clearing up, was filled with anguish.

"I've committed unforgivable sins over the past decades… How did I become like this?"

"Those weren't your actions, Mr. Barnes."

Kagura said gently.

"You can return to the right path now."

"Thank you for your kindness, but…"

Bucky shook his head.

"I've killed so many people, so many innocent people. I've done so many immoral things. I became a tool for others… I can't face myself, little girl."

"But you were brainwashed! That wasn't your choice."

Kagura countered.

"Even so, those are still crimes I must bear."

Bucky continued, "I'm sorry, but I can't accept the person I've become."

He looked up at the deep blue night sky.

"So, just end it. It's the only way I can atone."

Kagura's golden eyes flashed briefly.

"No, that's not your excuse for running away. I don't think ending it all is a responsible choice. I've known others with painful pasts, and they chose to carry the weight. You can do that too."

"That's their choice, little girl."

He smiled faintly.

"In my time, people did things differently. What's your name?"

"Kagura Hitomi."

The girl answered. "My name is Kagura Hitomi."

"Kagura Hitomi…"

Bucky handed her his gun.

"This is my choice. I can't live with the heavy weight of my sins. Maybe I'm not a hero, but I'm still a warrior."

"I've caused you all so much trouble… I'm truly sorry."

With that, he pressed the barrel of the gun to his forehead.

"So please, give me the ending a warrior deserves."

Kagura was silent.

The night wind blew, silver hair brushing against her pale cheek as the battlefield slowly returned to peace, the smoke gradually clearing.

"Steve Rogers is still alive."

"What?"

Bucky looked at her in shock.

"That... That can't be. It's 2009."

"Exactly, it's 2009, but you're still alive, aren't you?"

Kagura smiled.

"Mr. Barnes, would you like to continue living as a warrior for your old friend?"

Bucky remained silent.

"I'm not a good person anymore, Kagura Hitomi. I have no right to meet him again."

"You may not be a good person, but you can still be a hero."

Their eyes met.

Bucky Barnes seemed to think for a long while.

"Tell me, Kagura Hitomi, does this world still have a place for me?"

"Of course."

"But my sins are enough to make me die a thousand times."

"That depends on how you redeem yourself, Mr. Barnes. Will you be a convicted criminal or a redeemed hero?"

"I…"

A spark of light appeared in Bucky's eyes.

"If I have a chance, I want to become a hero. Only then will I have the right to face Steve Rogers."

"Then I'll give you that chance."

Kagura smiled.

"But… how?"

"It's simple. The dead don't need military tribunals."

"...Are we talking about faking my death again?"

"Justice isn't about how the world sees you. It's about what you choose to do. Do you trust me, Mr. Barnes?"

"I…"

Bucky paused, then said softly, "You saved my life, so I trust you."

"Good."

Kagura aimed the gun at Bucky's chest.

"Then we'll meet again."

'Bang!'